Poets announce '09 Men's Water Polo recruiting class

WHITTIER, Calif. - The Whittier College men's water polo program and head coach Justin Pudwill announced on Monday its 2009 recruiting class of 15 student-athletes. The Poets will welcome in six transfers and nine true freshmen.

"We are very excited to have all these guys joining our program," said Pudwill. "They are a very talented group and will help this program get to the next level."

The recruiting class features the 2006 CIF Division III Player of the Year (Uriel Villa), the 2007 Junior College leading goal scorer (Alex Perry) and the 2004 USC Freshman of the Year (Jordan Van Norman).

Pudwill is bringing in nine natives of California, two student-athletes from Connecticut and Texas and one Pennsylvania recruit.

The recruiting class is not finalized and all other recruits will be released during the summer.

Also see:
WaterPoloPlanet.com Interview with Justin Pudwill

2009 Recruiting Class Bios

Uriel Villa
Commerce, Calif.  (Pepperdine University)
Attacker - 5-9, 200lbs

Scored 10 goals as a true freshman in 2007 for Pepperdine...While at Montebello High School Uriel was a three time CIF division III champion... named the CIF Division III player of the year in 2006...three time all American in high school from 2004-2006...selected a Junior Olympics All American from 2004-2006 for the Commerce Water Polo Club.

Alex Perry
El Cajon, Calif.  (Mercyhurst College)
Attacker - 6-0, 173lbs

Selected first team All American, and leading scorer of the team in 2007 at Mercyhurst College...at West Hills High School was the team MVP, and the North Grossmont league MVP...CIF record for most goals scored in a career with 458...While at Grossmont College he was a first team All American...First team All Southern California...First Team All Conference...and the leading scorer in the state.

Rilesh Desai
Commerce, Calif. (West Valley College)
Utility - 5-11, 185lbs

While at Bell Gardens High School was a three time division three All CIF first team selection...was the team captain at West Valley College in 2003...helped West Valley to win the Junior College state championship in 2003.

Jordan Van Norman
San Diego, Calif.  (Grossmont College)
Center - 6-3, 230lbs

Van Norman earned All-America honors for three years at University High in San Diego, Calif... Received All-Western League honors all four years... Named team MVP twice... Played club for San Diego Shores... Shores won gold at 2002 and 2003 Junior Olympics... Named MVP in 2002 and first team in 2003...Van Norman has been a member of the U.S. Junior and Youth National teams... Won gold at the Pan American Games in El Salvador...Van Norman played at USC...Was the Trojans' sixth leading scorer with 22 goals in his first year at USC... At Grossmont was a selected to the 2008 All State team...selected an All American...elected to the All Southern California Team.

Damon Chandler
Anaheim, Calif.  (Western High School)
Utility - 6-3, 175lbs

Damon comes to Whittier College after an impressive high school career at Western High School...Damon was a receipient of his teams Most Improved Award in 2007...his senior year of high school earned Orange League Most Valuable Player...was a 2008 All CIF division VII First team selection.

Thomas Clauss
South Pasadena, Calif.  (South Pasadena High School)
Utility - 6-1, 162lbs

While at South Pasadena high school he was the team captain of his squad in 2008...also was an all Rio Hondo league 2^nd team selection in 2008...while also snagging an all area selection in 2008...rounding out an San Gabriel area All Star in 2008.

Michael Eachus
Telford, Pa. (Souderton Area High School)
Attacker - 5-9, 145lbs

While at Souderton Michael was selected back to back team MVP for his junior and senior year campaigns...was a first team All State selection for his Junior and Senior year...while also being selected as an high school all American for his junior year...most notably his nomination as the 2008 boy's water polo athlete of the year by the North Penn Reporter.

Tom Hyden
Melbourne, Australia (Greenwich High School)
Center - 5-9, 190lbs

Tom was a starter for Greenwich for the last three years in high school...while at Greenwich, he won three eastern championships...was an All Eastern tournament selection in 2009...and earned an All Tournament selection for the Beast of the East tournament in 2008.

Cameron Rehm
Chino Hills, Calif. (Ayala High School)
Utility - 6-2, 185lbs

Cameron was an All Sierra League second team selection in 2007...was an All Sierra league first team selection in 2008...also was a coach's award recipient in 2005...garnered the Coaches All Around Award at Ayala in 2008...and was a team captain in 2008 for Ayala High School.

Ryan Rock
San Diego, Calif. (Westview High School)
Goalie - 6-0, 160lbs

Ryan was a second Team All Palomar League Selection in 2007...Also earning is teams Best Defensive Player of the Year award...In 2008 was First Team All Valley League... Valley League Most Valuable Player...Third Team San Diego All CIF Division I selection...Team Most Valuable Player...and the Westview Team Captain.

Brandon Babot
Sunnyvale, Calif. (West Valley College)
Center - 6-4, 215lbs


Chris Evans
Greenwich, Conn. (Greenwich High School)
Attacker - 6-0, 165lbs

Eamon Kelly
Houston, Texas (Lamar High School)
Attacker - 6-2, 161lbs

Jorge Davila
The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands High School)
Utility - 6-0, 165lbs

Robert Nihei
San Diego, Calif.  (Grossmont College)
Center  -  6-3, 210lbs